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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

More AAQI Quilts

I just mailed these off so they will not be for sale for some time. Some time ago I made the $1000 promise and I'm hoping I'll get close to that goal with these final quilts. I will be making one more for sure, since I have a name for it already. That seems to be how it works for these little quilts. I think of a name, then I make the quilt.
What will my Mom therapy be when AAQI is no longer?

"Buckin' Hay" is one I enjoyed making the most. Lately my mom's aching joints and arthritis are always from the days of buckin' hay!! I thought the strings were appropriate because whether you are buckin' hay or feeding the cows you seem to have pieces of hay all over you.

You guys saw the center of this one I'm calling "Dark Side". I would be referring to my dark side. There are days I just cannot let certain things my mom says pass. Are you ready to hear a dark side story?
One day she told me the girls were not doing their job so she went up and got the vacuum cleaner and vacuumed her own room. My mom hasn't vacuumed in a long time, she doesn't even see that her floor needs vacuuming so I knew that she had not done this and said that her. "No you didn't." was my response. Then, of course, that makes her upset because I don't believe her. We have a bit of an exchange, she feels bad, I feel bad... we let it go, she forgets, I do not, so I make a little quilt for therapy! lol Slowly, I'm learning to knock it off...

"Independence" It is so hard to move a loved one into assisted living as they think they are losing their independence. It has been the best thing we have done. I really feel like the progression of Alzheimer's has slowed down because her body and mind are so much more active now. She is well liked by the other occupants and staff.

Recognize some cowboy fabric?! I'm calling this one "Rodeo" as my mom loves a good rodeo....and even a bad one! LOL

"The Here & The Now"

I read this saying somewhere and it really resonated with me.

"Without a memory of today or an understanding that the past is past, the future ceases to have meaning."

I only know that the present is what is important. That's the only thing she understands and if I can make her happy in the present, then that is all that really matters. Can you tell that this quilt came about after the Dark Side?!

I'm a slow learner.

I'll be sure to let you know when these get up for sale on the AAQI site.

beautiful little quilts and I can tell the love you put in these quilts. I hope someone will do ebay quilts for Alheizmers funding , sort of what the Red Cross did for Sandy victims. I am sure you will meet your goal with these quilts Lori.Kathie

Wow Lori these are all so very wonderful!! You put so much of yourself into these little quilts. The handquilting in each of them is lovely. My favorite is Buckin'hay - all my favorite colors :0) I am sure you will make your goal.

Love 'em, Lori. I really do appreciate how your quilts have meaning with the names and visuals intertwined. I am so hoping to get one more when these become available. : )That is a great new header. Story behind that quilt?

Lori, they are all so unique & beautiful in their own way! Buckin Hay is so cheerful it makes me smile :))) oh and i love Dark Side.. we all have those days don't we? Putting my mum into a nursing home was one of the hardest things i've had to do, so i understand and empathize with you.. know in your heart that you are doing what's best for her.hugs, Marian xo

Sure wish I'd had some quilt therapy while my mom was progressing through her dementia. It's so hard to watch your much loved mother, who does not recognize you, make this journey. Luckily she had wonderful caring people looking after her. But there were many times when I just had to bite my tongue and not respond to comments she made. I love your sweet little quilts, especially Buckin' Hay. I'm sure they will sell in no time and you will reach your $1000 goal. How generous you are.

What a tough road for all involved. I was blessed to have my mom right up to the last moments, she asked one thing from me and I promised I would and I'm living up to that promise. I hope I get an opportunity to purchase Independance, That is what we all hope for as long as possible. Big hugs to you,

Lori, your stories about your mom sounds so familiar. Mine developed dementia with the Parkinson's. She ran the show when I was a kid, and did a great job of it. When the dementia started, it was hard to tell her she was wrong about something, and try to explain it to her. It's tough, isn't it? I love your little quilts & your generosity.

I am so glad that you can find a little peace in the making of these quilts. Maybe after the program is over you can start up a retreat for family caretakers and show them what quilt therapy is all about. There are horse therapy classes right?:)

When I read your post it made me so thankful that my Mom, who is 89, is still my Mom, in the sense that she may be forgetful, but she still has her memory. Your little quilts are so wonderful... I love them all... especially Buckin' Hay!

Wonderful quilts Lori, everyone of them. My Mom frequently told me that she was tired because she had scrubbed floors and done laundry. Course she was not able to do either of those things. Other times she would be upset about things that did not happen. It was really hard to refrain from "corecting" here sometimes.

like a little quilt show here today~! all of these are great and yet so different from one another. it's interesting to read what your thoughts were as you stitched them up and i think we all tend to use our quiltmaking as therapy sometimes because it really helps us to do so no matter what it is that weighs on our minds and hearts. good news: after your last post on AAQI quilts i linked over for a visit and although i didn't get one of yours :-( i did manage to find several others. i'd like to be able to keep them but am planning on giving them as gifts this time.i'll have to keep an eye out for these to be put up for sale . . . i gotta get a little faster . . .

These little quilts will be sold quickly, I'm sure, when they're processed and offered. Though I especially like a couple of them, I'm going to let others have the opportunity to buy them. I'm fortunate to have bought two that you and Kathie collaborated on, plus one more that will be a gift soon for a daughter. Bless your hands and your heart -- your quilting work has been a wonderful part of the work of the AAQI.

Lori, what beautiful quilts along with some precious memories. I hope you are keeping a journal of all that is happening. When I was caring for my husband there were some things that made me laugh and others that made me cry. I wrote down all that stuff, because it was helpful to read after he died. It affirmed that I didn't want him back with that disease. Yes, I also learned not to contradict, but to say something positive.It takes a lot of creative thinking. I have some AAQI quilts in mind to do, but only have until Aug. 1st. Living alone I have to do everything. I turned in my taxes today. Our quilt guild makes quilts for 25-35- charities in the area, and I sew school bags for one of our church's missions, and I crochet and knit prayer shawls and baby blanket that are given through our church. I too, hope that there will be another avenue for this little quilts or something else to help contribute to Alzheimers research, and if not there are other ways to make the world a better place. Blessings to you as you continue to travel this road.

I keep thinking that someone else should pick up where Ami leaves off with these quilts. Maybe a new cause? I think she has done an amazing service to the world by teaching us all more about Alzheimer's and raising money to help researchers find a cure. What do you think, could this channeled into another cause?

This is such a hard time for families. My Mom would see something on TV and her mind would tell her it was actually her own family. She once told a cousin his mom had psychiatric problems (his mom died in an accident when he was a kid). Fortunately she told me the same thing on our way to visit him, so I was able to give him fair warning. There were days I wanted to just scream - and I know my quilting helped me maintain my sanity. We also put Mom in assisted living and that was a Godsend. It's a tough time and you have my thoughts and prayers.

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